High circulating level of soluble protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) have been shown to be associated to an increase risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), especially with values > 1200pg/ml, according to our previously study. Among factors contributing to CVEs onset, a major role is played by platelet activation. Although a link between PCSK9 and platelet activation was recently demonstrated by in vitro experiments but no data on the in vivo relationship between PCSK9 levels and platelet activation in AF patients are available.
The aim of this project will be to investigate the relationship between PCSK9 and platelet activation in a population of about 300 AF patients.
As a secondary end point we will evaluate the potential mechanism involved in the supposed capacity of PCSK9 to influence platelet activation.
Cardiovascular diseases still present a high rate of events even when patients are treated with a full therapeutic approach according to the current guidelines. This depends on the incomplete understand of the mechanisms implicated in the development of the atherosclerotic plaque leading to the cardiovascular events. In this context, a better comprehension of the pathways mediating platelet activation will support the introduction of new therapeutic strategies strategies aimed at reducing the cardiovascular event rate. PCSK9 is implicated in lipid metabolism, but data on different effect of this molecule on the atherosclerotic burden are still lacking. Hence , the analysis here proposed will give a potential answer to this question and suggest new therapeutic targets for reducing cardiovascular events.